Valve-rod guide for flush tanks



' June 24, 193.0. J. F. DUNCAN VALVE ROD GUIDE FOR FLUSH TANKS FiledAug. 30, 1928 INVENTOR .Jvzew Fflzzrz (are Patented June 24, 1930 IJAMES'F. DUNCAN, OF'VWATERVILLE, CONNECTICUT V LVE-non GUIDE FOR FLUSHTANKS Application filed August so, 1928. Serial Jim-302,935.

This invention relates to a device for guiding the valve rods of tanksemployed for flushing closets, urinals, and similar fittings.

In certain types of flush tanks it is customary to employ a'dischargevalve operated through a valve rodand a link and lever mechanismactuated from a suitablehandle or otherwise exteriorly of the-tank. Itis necessary in this type of structure to employ a guide for maintainingthe valve in alignment with its seat. I-Ieretofore so far as I am awareit has been necessary to so construct the devices employed for actuatingthe valve. that the distance between the ce-nter of the valve rod andthe valve and its seat and the support for the valverod guide is fixed.This-obviouslynecessitates the manufacture of a plurality of valve rodguides to be used in different types ofapparatus in which thisdistance'is not the port, the valve rod guide from theoverflow tube orpipe, and the object of my present invention is the provision of a valverod guide so constructed as to bemounted'on an overflowpipe in a flushtank, orto be mounted on any other suitable support, and to be clampedin desired position thereon; and I furthermore, to be fitted with amember adjustable to position whereby the same type of valve rod guidemay be employed within therefore, adapted for use in any flush tankQapparatus in which the distance between the overflow pipe, orthesuppfort, and the center of the valve rod. is within these limits.The structure, furthermore, as will be hereinafter moreparticularly'described, is such that in adjusting the parts to position thesame arefirst cramped to the overflow pipe or support "and then by furthertightening the clamp the adjustable member after being set may be"secured in position. 7 In the drawing Figure 1 is a sectional'eleclampmade in accordance tion,

" "Fig." 2 is an enlarged plan on line 2-2," I I g tion the clamp 26 isprovidedwitlra screw Fig. 3 is a sectionon line 3-3, Fig.2,

same are clamped together.

.same.- It is customary, furthermore, 'to supmeans ofa handle 21 orotherwise.

parts of the apparatusare old and well known the limits of itsadjustability and which'is,

vation illustrating the use of the valve rod with this invenlidjig. 4 isa section on line H, Fig-:3, Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing theparts of the valve rod guide in position before the Inthe drawing I haveillustrateda portion of a flush tank at 10. As is customary a dischargepipe connection- 11 passes through the lower wall of the tanklO. iVithinthe tank 10 a valve seat member 12 isconnected to the discharge pipe 11.Forming part of thevalve seat member 12 there isan exten- O F if" sion13 to which in a'customary manner an overflow pipe or tnbelei isconnected. C0- operatlng "with the valve-seat. member 12isadischargevalve 15. -This isfoperated through a valve rod l6,=a* link 17 connectedthereto, a lever 18 to which the link 17' is connected;"and a rod'19mountedin abracket. 20 and 'operated exterior-1y of the tankby These Thedevice to which the presentginventionmore particularly' relatesyisthevalve rod guide; As illust-ratedthis device is constructed'to includea collar 22 adapted to surround the overflo'w pipe 14. Thecollar 22 isformed with an arm 23 extending there- 1' At its inner end this arm 23is transversely recessed, as indicated at 24, and the outer face of therecess is tapered or beveled, as clearly indicated in "Fig. 3 of thedrawing. The 1 upper surface of this arm 23-i's'longitudinally groovedasdesignated at 25. i

Associated with the arm 23' I employ a clamp 2 6. At one end this clamp26 is pro-' vided with a wedge projection'27 having a .face taperedatthe same angle as theouter face of the recess 2% while this end of theclamp 26 isj'made concave to conform to the curvature of the overflowpipe 14 so as b'ear and fit against the same in securing the parts inposition; At the opposite or outer end of 'the clamp 26 there isa boss28 depending appreciably therefrom. In a'suitable' posior bolt hole 29through which therepasses;

a screw 30 adapted to be turned down into a tapped opening 31 providedtherefor in the arm 23.

The device also includes a guide arm adjustable to position relativelyto the arm 23 and its clamp member 26. This guide arm is designated at32. It is adapted to flt and slide within-the groove 25 in the upperface of the arm 23 and at its outer end this guide arm is bifurcated, asdesignated at '33, the bifurcated end portions being provided with holesof substantially the same diameter as that of the valve rod 16 adaptedto pass through and slide therein for guiding the valve rod in theoperation thereof. At its opposite or inner end the guide arm 32 isprovided with a boss 34. adapted to contact with the inner or undersurface ofthe clamp 26 and to cooperate with the boss 28 in determiningthe extent of the outward adjustment of the guide arm.

, In the useof this apparatus the collar is placed on the overflow pipe14 and movedto the desired position thereon. The clamp member 26 is thenset on the arm 23 of the collar and the screw 30turned sufliciently tocause the wedge member 27 to engage in the recess 24L whereby it will beunderstood the collar and its arm are set and fixed on the overflowpipe. The guide arm 32 is then placed in the groove 25 and adjusted tothe position in which the valve rod is in alignment with the valveandthe valve seat, whereupon by tightening the screw the wedge 27 engagesthe overflow pipe withatigl rtergrlp and the guide arm 32 is engagedbetween the arm 23 and the clamp 26 in such a manner as to.securethesame in its adjusted position, it being obvious that the boss28 on the clamp bears against the upper surface of the guide while theboss 2& bears against the inner surface of the clamp 26. Of course, itwill be understood that the length of the arms 23 and 32 may be such astoprovide for a valve .rod clamp that may be used connection with anyflush tank apparatus of such dimensions as are commonly employedirrespective of the distance between the-centerof the overflow pipe orother support and the center of the valve rod, that is, the axis thereofand that of the valve and its seat. Obviously also, instead of placingthe parts in the relative positions as herein shown and described theymay be reversed and other similar and equivalent changes made withoutdeparting from the nature and spiritof the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a valve rod guide for flush tanks, an arm,a supporter therefor, an extension member adjustable to positionrelatively to the said arm, .and means for simultaneously securing thearm to its support and maintaining the extension member inpositionrelatively to the said arm.

v 2. In a valve rod guide for flush tanks, an

arm, a support therefor, an extension member adjustable to position insaid arm, a clamp, and means whereby the clamp simultaneously securesthe arm to its support and the extension member in an adjusted positionrelatively to the said arm.

3. In a valverod guide for flush tanks, a collar adapted to surround theoverflow pipe in the flush tank, an arm integral with and clamp memberto engage the arm and the v overflow pipe to secure the collar and armin position thereon and also to engage the valve rod guide member to fixthe same in an adjusted position relatively to the said arm.

5. In a valve rod guide for flush tanks, a collar adapted to surroundthe overflow pipe of the flush tank, an arm extending therefrom andhaving a recess with a tapered wall in that portion of the arm adjacentits connection with the collar, a valve rod guide memi ber, and a clamphaving a wedge shaped end adapted to lie in the recess in the arm and toengage the overflow pipe and the inclined wall ofthe arm for securingthe collar and arm in position on the overflow pipe and also tosimultaneously engage the said valve rod guide member to secure the samein an adusted position on the said arm.

6. In a valve rod guide for flush tanks, a

collar adapted to fitaroundthe overflow pipe of theflush tank, an armextending from the said collar, there being a recess at the inner end ofthe said arm defined in part by an inclined wal-l spaced from the saidoverflow pipe, the arm also having a groove in the upper face thereof, avalve rod guide member movable to position in the groove in the face ofthe said arm, and a clamp having one end thereof adapted to enter thesaid recess in the arm and to engage the overflow pipe and the inclinedwall of the arm and also to simultaneously engage the said valve rodguide. member to secure the same in an adjusted position in the saidarm.

7. In a valve rod, guide for flush tanks, a collar adapted to fit aroundthe overflow pipe of the flush tank, an arm extending from the saidcollar, there being a recess at the inner end of thesaid arm defined inpart by an inclined wall spaced from the .said overflow pipe, the armalso having a groove in the upper face thereof, a valve rod guide membermovable to position in the groove in-the 7 face of the said arm, and ascrew passing through the -said guide member and engaging

